ATF and KSP Partnership Result in Arrest of Five Kentucky Armed Meth Ring Members

Five Arraigned On 14-Count Indictment for Multiple Firearms Violations and Meth Trafficking

COVINGTON, Ky., March 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Brian Daniel Akins, Anthony Houze, Matthew Sheets, Patricia Nicole Vickers, and Trista Leigh Mudd of Falmouth, Ky., were arrested on March 17, 2008, by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on a 14-count federal indictment charging them as members of an armed criminal organization with violating numerous federal firearms laws and conspiring together to distribute methamphetamine, announced ATF Special Agent in Charge Paul Vido of the Louisville Field Division, Acting U.S. Attorney James A. Zerhusen for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Captain Keith Craycraft of the Kentucky State Police, Post 6, Dry Ridge.

The indictment alleges that Akins, Houze, Sheets, Vickers, and Mudd beginning on or about Feb. 7, 2008, conspired together to manufacture and distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. In addition, Akins, Houze, Sheets, and Mudd possessed firearms (handguns) in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime and for possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user/addict of a controlled substance. Moreover, Sheets was indicted for illegal possession of a firearm (handgun) after being a previous convicted felon. All of these alleged violations occurred in northern Kentucky.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tony Bracke. The ATF Covington Satellite Office and the Kentucky State Police, Post 6, Dry Ridge, are conducting this ongoing joint investigation.

The trial date has been scheduled for May 19, 2008, at 9:00 a.m., in the U.S. District Court located in Covington. If convicted, Akins, Houze, Sheets, Vickers, and Mudd are facing a maximum prison sentence of not less than 10 years to life in prison.

ATF is the federal law enforcement agency with the unique responsibility of protecting the public and reducing violent crime. ATF has the jurisdiction for investigating violations of federal laws and regulations relating to alcohol and tobacco diversion, firearms, explosives and arson. More information on ATF and its programs is at http://www.atf.gov/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

CONTACT: Craig W. Roegner of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives, +1-502-753-3556, Cell: +1-502-773-2614, LouisDiv@atf.gov

Web Site: http://www.atf.gov/

2008-03-20 17:07:17 0317645 PRNEWSWIRE